Sunday, December 20, 2009

1. I may have talked about this is in my last email, but on Dec. 9 we were given forms to fill out that are new requirements for our visas. They are police clearance forms. We just had to write our name and home address on them and then put a thumbprint at the bottom. We filled them out right away and turned them in that night. They have been having the districts fill those out for the past 3-4 weeks starting with the oldest districts. Some Elders and Sisters were told to do it before (like Sis Kessler)--we don't know why some were told and some not...its kind of a mess I think! But Sis. Kessler got her visa so we think its related! Anyway, we were excited to know that we had done everything we could and are really just waiting now...

2. Related to this....Yesterday 31 visas came!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not anyone in our district, but most of the "Mega" districts got theirs. You become a Mega district after your allotted 9 weeks in the MTC are up and you still don't have a visa! The second week we were here the first district to go MEGA was temporarily reassigned to different missions in Tennessee and in Georgia.

AWESOME STORY ABOUT THIS:Okay, so one set of missionaries from that MEGA district were reassigned to Marietta, Georgia. There they were told they would stay companions and were given an apartment to live in. It just so happens (AKA God Exists!) that the apartment complex is 80% Portuguese-speaking Brazilians who were praying for missionaries to come. They are teaching about 8 lessons a day in their mission language when they thought they'd be getting rusty on their temporary state side assignment. AMAZING?! I think so. I love this Gospel!!!!!!!

Anyway, back to the visas that came in: So great!! We are so excited for everyone! We were told that these visas were all from the LA consulate too, which is the one that has been the most problematic, so this is a VERY good sign!! We also heard that the USA is the only country having problems getting visas...so we don't know what that is about but I hope it all gets resolved soon! I want to go to BRAZIL!!!

3. Sunday. SO GREAT! First the sisters in our branch sang Mary's Lullaby together in Sacrament Meeting in Portuguese! I LOVE that song and its so beautiful in Portuguese! Then we had an AMAZING fireside by the BYU Men's Chorus! I didn't even know they existed! They are INCREDIBLE! The spirit was so strong! A few members shared their testimonies and conversion stories throughout the program. Each one brought me to tears and testified to me of the truthfulness of what we know about our Savior, Jesus Christ. It is TRUE! There is no way the many miracles that occur could happen without a Supreme Creator who has a PERFECT, LOGICAL Plan! THEN, after the fireside, Sis. Riggs and I went up to the common area on our floor to do our personal study. We hadn't had time to do it yet that day. There was a district of Elders up there that were talking and goofing around. We started our study and I began by writing down all my thoughts and impressions from the fireside. I was on a spiritual high. The Elders were being pretty disruptive and started talking about inappropriate things and I had a prompting to start a testimony meeting with them. The idea terrified me. I argued with the Spirit for about 10 minutes--which I hate to admit--and finally prayed to my Heavenly Father asking him if it was really what he wanted me to do. It was. I asked him for strength to do His will. The next thing I knew I was standing up and walking over to them. We had an amazing testimony meeting together. It was incredible. One of the Elders ended up sharing some very personal stuff with them that he had said he'd felt prompted to share but hadn't known when to do it. After wards Sis Riggs walked over and closed the meeting with her amazing testimony. Then we both went into the bathroom and cried our eyes out.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Today is my one-month anniversary at the MTC! CRAZY! Time has flown by!! Did I say something similar to that in my last email?! I apologize if so...but time really does disappear here! It's insane!

Being the one-month mark, today is the day we stop talking in english in our classes! We also start teaching our TRC lessons completely in Portuguese! Up until now, we have had a 15 minute segment in the beginning where we do an activity in Portuguese (like a street contact, or getting to know someone, and then come back and teach in english.) Nao Mais! Its all Portuguese from here on out!

I love the Portuguese language! I still cannot make the nasal sound (correctly, that is) but besides that, it's going good! The grammar rules are complicated, but I'm trying to get them down! I am pretty sure its going to pick up and really sky-rocket now that we are stopping the english. I haven't been practicing enough, but I have a new goal to really hit it hard since it is MUITO IMPORTANTE!

The teaching is going well too! I love teaching the gospel....just have to say that! And I hope I can continue to learn more about it and have the Spirit with me more constantly in my life!

Other Randomness: I have a cold right now. Its lame! But I am SO grateful its not swine flu, so all is well!

I love love love my companion, district, our adopted district, our new roommate Sis Hansen, and my teachers. They are so much fun and are teaching me so much!

Friday, December 4, 2009

Its not actually morning, but I wanted to say that....so enjoy!! It literally means Good Day so it works!

Okay, so I only have 15 minutes to write since I had to read all of Andrea's emails (HAHAHA JK I LOVE LOVE LOVED ALL OF THEM!)

But I will try to write a handwritten letter with more personal and exciting news and just give you some updates on clothes and other news right now.

Everyone who hadn't gotten the swine flu shot had to get them yesterday to I am now "immune!" I was really trying to avoid that shot but when it becomes a rule here at the MTC with so many people in quarantine, I guess I can oblige them!

My poor friend Sister Jenny Bullock from my single's ward had to be quarantine last week! It was so sad! I was wondering why I wasn't seeing her around and then as my companions and I walked past the door of the sister's quarantine she came to the window and told me her sad tale! Luckily she is out now and I saw her at lunch. She was as bright, beautiful, and happy as ever!

I forgot to tell you guys that the first day I got here Laura got to be my host sister! It was so meant to be! They took me to the check in place to get me a host sister and she had just got there to get a new sister when I walked in! We got very excited and she said "This is my cousin, I'm taking her!" It was great! We see eachother around pretty often and have had a few chances to sit and chat about our lives, so that is good! We took a picture, which I will send via mail as soon as possible....see #5: (I think that is so cool, we miss Laura so much too!!)

I am SO SO SO sorry you haven't gotten pictures from me yet! I don't know why or what is going on, but none of the computers are allowing us to email pictures (or open them so I didn't get to see any of the ones you sent :( ) so I am going to send hard copies soon. Every time we have gone into the bookstore to print pictures the machines have been broken or with SUPER LONG lines, so I still haven't printed any. Hopefully tomorrow!

Okay, only have a minute left so I'll write the rest in my written letter!

Sister Erin Knudsen...

We are so excited that Erin will be serving an 18 month mission in Sao Paulo, Brazil for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day saints! We know that her testimony will touch many, and her spirit will lift those who do not yet have the knowledge of the gospel in their lives. I will keep this blog updated with her letters, photos, and new addresses. Please comment, we would love to hear from all of you and she will treasure this when she get's home! We sure miss her, but are staying strong because we know that she is serving the Lord, and that is amazing.